Strada 241 says so long to Chinatown

There’s been much talk lately—some optimistic, some less so—about the influx of trendy, not-particularly-Chinese restaurants opening shop along the Chinatown strip. One of the very first was Strada 241, the weirdly enormous Italian restaurant at 241 Spadina Avenue from brothers (and former TV stars) Michael and Guy Rubino. Despite generally positive reviews, it appears neighbourhood demand for rustic Italian food ultimately wasn’t strong enough to sustain the business past the two-year mark. Yesterday, the Rubinos confirmed over social media that the restaurant has closed. A message on the restaurant’s Facebook page thanks staff members for their enthusiasm and signs off with, “It’s been a slice.” It will be interesting to see what happens next in the 3,800-square-foot space, which always seemed a bit too imposing to house a cozy trattoria. Stay tuned for updates.